Monthly Archives: April 2019

I arrived at Dulles on my connecting flight just about three hours and forty minutes before my flight with Etihad. The check in desk had not yet opened and having baggage to check, I had no choice but to wait for it. About 10 minutes after I reached the desk, the desk agents manned the desks and began checking people …

American airframer Boeing is going through a torrid time, after the crash of ET302 and subsequent grounding of the 737 MAX – the airlines stock price has taken a huge hit, its delivery numbers have fallen and the grounding is reportedly going to cost the manufacturer $1 Billion. A point that many have made from beginning of the incident when …

Of the big three middle-eastern carriers, Etihad has been suffering the most financially. The airline has resorted to significant cost cutting over the last couple of years to try to claw their way out of the red. The airline has also been trying to increase revenue out of its existing product by charging to book certain seats, introducing a buy-on-board …

I wrote this review towards the end of February, before Jet Airways ceased operations. While I hope the airline makes a comeback, I can’t help but think that this may have been the last time I got to fly with Jet. So in a way this article acts as a tribute to the airline. Going forward the article refers to …

Jet Airways has suspended operations as of April 17, 2019. It was an action that should have been taken much earlier. The debate continues on whether a consortium will successfully bid and re-start the airline or if the government will step-in. While the 16,000+ employees are still hopeful, the fact of the matter is that actions have left the airline …

Emirates and SpiceJet have announced a codeshare agreement to allow both the airlines to take advantage of each others network. The airlines have signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU), which following regulatory approvals will allow SpiceJet to place its code and offer connections on Emirates vast international network. Emirates will gain access to 51 domestic destinations with 10 direct destinations …

Low-cost carrier SpiceJet will launch two new flights to Bangkok from 17 May 2019. The airline is launching a new route from Mumbai to Bangkok. It will also double its current Delhi – Bangkok with a second daily flight. The airline is attempting to capture market share in the wake of the Jet Airways collapse. It will be adding 27 …

Low cost carrier SpiceJet has announced that it will be leasing six Boeing 737-800s. These aircraft will be in addition to the previously announced 16 737s and 5 Q400s that the airline announced that it will be inducting. The airline has applied to the DGCA to import these aircraft and plan to induct the aircraft in the next 10 days. …

Low-cost carrier SpiceJet has announced that it will add five additional 90-seater Bombardier Q400s to its fleet. Three of the aircraft will join the fleet in the next 10 days while the remaining will be inducted in June. SpiceJet was the launch customer of the 90-seat Q400. The airline placed an order for 50 of the type back in September …

Bangalore Airport (BIAL) has announced that the User Development Fee (UDF) at the Kempegowda International Airport, will be increased for four months from 16 April 2019. The UDF per passenger will be revised: from Rs. 139 to Rs. 306 for domestic departures from Rs. 558 to Rs. 1,226 for international departures The revised fee will be applicable for tickets procured …

Continuing from yesterday, when the airline cancelled its international flights from Bangalore and Chennai. Jet Airways now appears to have cancelled all its flights to London, Paris and Amsterdam. All flights to the above cities have been cancelled for today, they are currently showing as scheduled for tomorrow. However, it is uncertain that Jet will be able to resume these …

SpiceJet has announced that it will dry lease 16 additional Boeing 737-800s. The airline has applied to the Directorate General of Civil Aviation for a No Objection Certificate to import the aircraft. The airline has not identified the source of the lease. SpiceJet currently has 13 737 MAX 8s grounded and has indicated that the recent troubles of Jet Airways …

The saga of Jet Airways has been analysed to death. The situation is turning in to a tale of “could have, should have, would have……..”. In this scenario, we opine the best option, for now, is to ground Jet Airways, and suspend all operations. It is a radical opinion, but do read on. The current situation The proposed funds infusion …

Beleaguered carrier Jet Airways seems to be going from bad to worse, while the airline is inching forward on fumes waiting for emergency funding – the delay is continuing to cost the airline dearly. So far in the last 30 days: The airline’s fleet has reduced from over a 100 aircraft to around an estimated 15 today. Jet Airways cancels …

American airframer Boeing has closed out the first quarter by adding 44 orders to its order book for 2019. The orders included 18 777X’s for British Airways, Two 777F’s for DHL, 20 787’s for Lufthansa group and 3 BBJ’s for private customers. In total the manufacturer has reported 95 orders and four cancellations for a net positive of 91 orders …

The first day of release of the Expression of Interest (EOI) document for the sale of Jet Airways (download here) failed to see any formal response. Inspite of tomorrow being the deadline for submission investor interest has been tepid at best. We feel there are some key reasons for this lack of interest. No certainty on the price and value …

Low-cost carrier Indigo has announced that it will begin 20 new domestic flights from Mumbai and three international flights. The airline is adding international flights to Damman, Jeddah and Abu Dhabi, all of which were previously destinations served by Jet’s 737 fleet. The new domestic flights will be operated by the airline from Mumbai’s Terminal 2. Rival airlines have been …

European airframer Airbus has closed out the last month of the quarter with 58 orders. While the figures are much better than the first two months where the company only secured orders for four of it’s the smallest aircraft. Airbus will still close the quarter with a net order deficit of 58 aircraft. The manufacturer has also not yet accounted …

Full-service carrier Vistara has announced that it will begin operating 14 new flights from 16 April 2019. The flights will be between Mumbai and Bangalore, Hyderabad and Kolkata with varying frequencies and will end on 15 July 2019. The airline appears to be taking the opportunity to seize the market share previously held by rival Jet Airways. In all likely hood …

It is well known the aviation business is competitive, and India is probably the most difficult market to succeed in. While airlines are making handsome profits across the world, almost every Indian airline is facing financial issues. Leading the losses are national carrier Air India and private sector pioneer Jet Airways. Even the low-fare carriers are suffering in this era …